Phosphate detergent composition in



Patented Jan. 8, 1952 PHOSPHATE DETERGENT COMPOSITION IN HOMOGENEOUSLIQUID FORM Samuel Machlis, New Rochelle, N. Y., and Edwin B. Michaels,Stamford, Conn., assignors to The Stamford Chemical Company, Stamford,Conn.,

a partnership No Drawing. Application November 18, 1948, Serial No.60,837

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a composition of matter having detergentproperties. More particularly, it pertains to a composition in liquidform and includes correlated improvements and discoveries wherebypreparation and utilization thereof are enhanced.

It has previously been proposed to prepare detergent compositionscontaining synthetic compounds which have synergistic characteristics.Further, alkali metal phosphates have been found to improve thedetergent value of synthetic mixtures. However, all of such previouslyprepared combinations have consisted of mixtures of dry powders inasmuchas it has not been possible to form homogeneous compositions ofsynthetic detergents having a significant concentration in solution ofan alkali metal phosphate. It is the principal object of the inventionto provide a detergent composition which does not possess the foregoingdisadvantages.

An object of the invention is the provision of a detergent compositioncontaining an alkali metal phosphate and a plurality of synthetic or-.ganic detergents in a homogeneous liquid state which is readily solublein water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid detergentcomposition containing synthetic organic detergents having synergisticproperties but which are not among themselves miscible to formhomogeneous compositions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a composition ofmatter having detergent properties which may be readily, effectively andeconomically prepared.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a detergentcomposition in liquid 'form and'containing complex polyphosphates whichare substantially stabilized so that they do not specifically apyrophosphate, a plurality of synthetic organic detergents havingsynergistic properties, an" alkali metal aryl sulfonate, and

water. The alkali metal phosphate may be present in an amount from about5% to about 30% and utilization may be made of sodium hexametaphosphate,tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, sodiumtripolyphosphate, sodium tetraphosphate and trisodium phosphate. We havefound that where a complex polyphosphate is included in the composition,its value as measured by calcium ion sequestration, does not dissipateon storage, although, it is present in an aqueous solution.

The synthetic organic detergents may include. an amide-of a sulfonatedhigher fatty acid, as

those present in cocoanut oil, viz: lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearicand oleic; a sulfated higher aliphatic monohydric alcohol, which may belauryl. myristyl or stearyl, and an alkyl aryl sulfonate having thegeneral formula R-R'SO3M in which R represents an alkyl group containingfrom 12-15 carbon atoms, R represents an aromatic residue as a benzene,napthalene and anthracene residue and M represents sodium and potassium.The alkali metal aryl sulionate may be a sodium or potassium xylenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, cumene sulfonate and tretrahydronaphthalenesulfonate. It will be realized that the synthetic organic detergents andthe other constituents as the higher fatty acid amides may be employedalone and in compatible admixtures.

It has been our finding that solutions containing more than 5% of analkali metal phosphate are of value as detergent compositions in theevent that such compositions also contain significant amounts of certainsynthetic organic detergents having synergistic properties. tion mayspeciallybe made of an amide of sulfonated cocoanut oil fatty acids.However, when this amide is added to an alkali metal phosphate solutionof more than 5% concentration there is an immediate separation into twolayers which renders the composition useless as a detergent. In theevent that certain sodium aryl sulfonates are added, such 'as sodiumxylene sulfonate, the solution containing the phosphate and amide nolonger separates into two layers or phases but in contradistinctionthereto forms a clear homogeneous solution having distinctive detergentqualities.

Further, we have found that the composition may include also more than1% of a sulfated higher aliphatic monohydric a1cohol,.as sodiumlaurylsulfate, since the sulfated alcohol becomesreadilysoluble althoughsuch a concentration thereof will 'not'form a-homogeneous solution Men-lowing eiiamples are presented.

- 3 in water. Consequentl the composition contains an alkali metalphosphate in combination with a plurality of synthetic organicdetergents having synergistic properties, and we have found that thedetergent qualities of such a composition exhibit values markedly. inexcess of the additive values of the individual constituents.

This was demonstrated by a detergency study of the followingcompositions;

- Per cent 'a. Tetrapotassium pyrophosphaters a- 15 Water. 85 b. Sodiumlauryl sulfate a f2 Alkyl aryl sulfonate mnsn'uefine- 2. Sulfonatedcocoanut oil fatty acid amide" 5 Water v 91 c. Tetrapotassiumpyrophosphat'e i.1'3 Sulfonated cocoanut oil fatty acid amide 5 Alkylaryl sulfonate 2 Sodium lauryl sulfate; 2 Sodium xylene sulfonate -w 4.5Water 7 7 73.5

The detergency study was made on soiled glass wicking according to themethod described in Soap and Sanitarybliemicals, September 1948, using aconcentration or 0.2% with the following "results: Per "cen t fletrgeney;a -2 b-r 7 c-AB When *a and b are combined the detergency is almostdouble the additive value, hence a 'syner- 'gisti'c effect.

As an illustrative embodiment of a manner in which the invention may bepracticed, the'fol- Example 1 V 7 Per cent Tetrapota's'siumpyro'phosphate l3 Sulfonated coco'anu-t oil fatty acid amiden Alkyl arylsulfonate '2' Sodium lauryl sulfate 2 Sodium xylene sulfo'nate 4.5 Water73.5

Example 2 Per cent Tetrapotassium pyrophosphatm- ;.si e 26 Sulionatedcocoanut oil fatty acid amidee Alkyl aryl sulfonate ie;; i 4 Sodiumlauryisulfateeeme l-;- 4 Sodium xylene sulfonateenunheim; -ea- 10 Watere 45 Example 3 V Per cent Tetrapotassium pyrophosphatee i 1'3Polymerized ethylene oxide condensation product ,5. Allryl arylsulionate Sodium lauryl sulfates 2 Sodium xylene sulfonate ..a. $5 Wateri I 73.5

Sulfonated cocoanut oil fatty acid amide 3-25 l .The compositions hereindescribed have distinctlve detergent properties, and the phosphate whichis a significant part of the composition, together with the syntheticorganic detergents yields a composition of which the use is economicallyfeasible. Moreover, the utilization of these liquid "detergentcompositions fl rOViIdes values which have not been attained previouslyin the employment of detergents. Further, since synthetic organicdetergents are usually prepared in 10 the liquid state, in fact, many ofthem being liquids normally, the cost of drying these compounds to afree-flowing powder is obviated by the present invention, and thereby araw material of lower cost isprovided.

Additionally, the ultimate use of a detergent is in a dilute aqueoussolution. Solid detergents require time and effort to disperse ordissolve them to form a solution, and especially so since some arepoorly soluble whereas others due to their aflinity for water form lumpsand gelled masses which are difiicult to handle.

Furthermore, powdered detergents vary greatly in density and in bulkwhich leads to inaccuracies in use unless special care is taken withrespect to the amounts being employed. Also, neither weighing facilitiesnor time therefor are readily available either in the household or inthe plant where the detergent is being used. This consequently leads towaste which is entirely and readily overcomewhen a homogeneous liquidcomposition as provided .by the present in.-

vention is employed, due to the fact that the liquid can, be measuredaccurately by volume.

Another advantage of the composition in ho mogeneous liquid form is thatit may easily be utilized in automatic dispensing apparatus.

Since certain changes may be made in the above composition of matter anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription shall be interpreted as illustrative a'nd not in a 1imitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. q

Having described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: 41.. A composition in the form of ahomogeneous liquid having detergent propertiesand consisting essentiallyof an aqueous medium con}- .55 taining an alkali metal phosphate inanamount from about 13 to about 26%, a sulfonated higher fatty acid amideinan amount from about 5 to about 10% an alkyl-ar-yl sulfonate havingthe general formula R- R -sOaM in which R represents an alkyl groupcontaining from 12-15 carbon atoms, R represents an aromatic residue ofthe group consisting of a benzene, naphthalene and anthracene residueand M. represents a metal of the group consisting of sodium andpotassium ,in an amount from about 2 to about 4%, a sulfated higheraliphatic monohydric alcohol in an amount from about 2 to about 4 and analkali metal aryl sulfonate in an amount from about 4.5 to about 10%,said composition re-- 0 taining its homogeneity upon standing.

2. A compositionin the form of a homogeneous liqu d having deter nproperties and consistin essentially of an aqueous medium containingtetrapotassium pyrophosphate in an amount from 1.3 toabout26%, asulfonated higher fatty acid 5 amide from about 5 to about 10%, an alkylaryl sulfonate having the general formula 6 REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 15 547,688

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Orelup Nov. 20, 1934 Friesenhahn Apr.30, 1935 Katzman Dec. 26, 1939 Lind Mar. 12, 1946 Cornell et a1 Mar. 7,1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 7, 1943

1. A COMPOSITION IN THE FORM OF A HOMOGENEOUS LIQUID HAVING DETERGENT PROPERTIES AND CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN AQUEOUS MEDIUM CONTAINING AN ALKALI METAL PHOSPHATE IN AN AMOUNT FROM ABOUT 13 TO ABOUT 26%, A SULFONATED HIGHER FATTY ACID AMIDE IN AN AMOUNT FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 10%, AN ALKYL ARYL SULFONATE HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA R-R1-SO3M IN WHICH R REPRESENTS AN ALKYL GROUP CONTAINING FROM 12-15 CARBON ATOMS, R1 REPRESENTS AN AROMATIC RESIDUE OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A BENZENE, NAPHTHALENE AND ANTHRACENE RESIDUE AND M REPRESENTS A METAL OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IN AN AMOUNT FROM 2 TO ABOUT 4%, A SULFATED HIGHER ALIPHATIC MONOHYDRIC ALCOHOL IN AN AMOUNT FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 4% AND AN ALKALI METAL ARYL SULFONATE IN AN AMOUNT FROM ABOUT 4.5 TO ABOUT 10%, SAID COMPOSITION RETAINING ITS HOMOGENEITY UPON STANDING. 